How many miles before oil change

This residue, formed when oil breaks down, can block the flow of oil, leading to the quick death of an engine. Visit our guide to car maintenance and repair. There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to keeping your car running smoothly.

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Updated March 29, Photo: iStock. When to Change the Oil. According to the automotive website Edmunds. One way to reduce trips to and money spent unnecessarily on quick-lube outlets is to switch to synthetic oils, which last longer and perform better than their traditional petroleum-based counterparts. Some synthetic motor oils, like Amsoil, NEO and Red Line, to name a few, are created specifically to last 25, miles or one year before needing a change. While neither conventional nor synthetic motor oils are good for the environment if disposed of improperly or spilled , most environmentalists would opt for the latter since it lasts three or more times longer and thus reduces waste or energy use if recycled.

Researchers have been experimenting with producing greener motor oils—one pilot project out of Purdue University has produced high-quality, carbon-neutral motor oil from canola crops—but consumers should not expect to see such products on store or garage shelves anytime soon, as the costs of production are high and the availability of cropland is limited.

But the very existence of such alternatives—no doubt more are in the offing—bodes well for the future as oil becomes more scarce and expensive. For instance, if your car is fairly new and you usually drive 20 minutes or more and achieve fairly steady speeds as opposed to stop-and-go traffic the entire drive you are a prime candidate for increasing the time between your oil changes.

However, if your car is older, it's best to stick with the manufacturer's recommend maintenance schedule. If your car's manufacturer recommends synthetic oil, or if you decide to make the switch, you could go as many as 10, miles or more between oil changes. Though synthetic oil is much more expensive than regular oil, it has more benefits. It performs better than regular oil see sidebar below and is better for the environment.

Opinion differs, though, whether upgrading is worth it. While some experts suggest doing it in most circumstances, Consumer Reports said in that, generally , you shouldn't switch to synthetic if your car doesn't need it. If you frequently tow heavy loads, synthetic oil can help ease the extra strain on your car's engine.

If you own a model known to be prone to sludge issues that is, when your engine gets clogged with the residue of degraded oil , synthetic oil can help alleviate those problems and prolong the life of your engine. It's best to keep track of the miles you drive between oil changes, though newer model cars make this easier with a dash indicator that tells you it's time to head to the shop, as part of what is called an oil life monitoring system.

These systems track your mileage and also use data from your driving that's analyzed by your car's computer to determine when your car needs an oil change.

When the light illuminates, it's best to get the oil changed as soon as possible, but it's not necessarily urgent. If your car has an oil life monitoring system, note that this light is different than your oil pressure light , which illuminates on your dash if your car's oil isn't flowing properly due to low level, a failing oil pump, a leak in the system or some other issue.

Learn the difference between the two dash lights, because if the oil pressure light comes on, you need to stop driving as soon as possible to avoid engine damage. Get in the habit of checking your oil at least once a month to ensure your car's not leaking or burning oil.

If the level is low, add oil. Good oil should be a clear brown-black color, though the Automobile Association of America AAA cautions that color is not the only indicator of oil life. If the oil is murky or opaque, it might be time for a change, and if it's milky, your engine may be leaking coolant. Some things are better the more times you do them. Long-life oil may last between 5, and 15, miles, depending on the type you choose.

You can also save money on your car insurance with Metromile and pay-per-mile auto insurance. You can download the Metromile app for free and see if pay-per-mile auto insurance is right for you. After how many miles should you change your oil?